Extension-table.



L. GLATZ.

EXTENSION TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 5, 1914.

1,18U,8%1 Patented Apr. 25, 1916.

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L. GLATZ.

EXTENSION TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 5, 1914.

Patented Apr. 25,1916.

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LUDWIG GLATZ, 0F CINCINNATI, OHIO.

EXTENSION-TABLE.

Application filed September 5, 1914.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LUDWIG Gnvrz, a subject of the Emperor ofAustriad'lungary, and resident of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamiltonand State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inExtension-Tables, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to extension-tables of the class that isgenerally or commonly known as the pedestal type in which the normaltable or table-proper can be extended from two opposing parallel sidesof its main or normal body portion that contains the stationarysupporting-pedestal structure, and the object of the invention is toprovide means whereby the extensible portions can be drawn lengthwisefrom two opposite parallel sides of the main-table on an elevating orgradually higher-level plane so that the extra boards or leaves used canbe carried in a piled-up state by the outermost pairs of slides at eachof said sides of the main-table and, when the inner pairs of the saidtwo pairs of slides have been extended and elevated to the desiredlevel, the said piled-up extra leaves can be unfolded on their hinges,which is the preferred manner of arranging them, and turned inwardlytoward the main-table and used as fillers in the space or gap that liesbetween the outermost extended leaf or board of each set of piled-upleaves and the next adjacent parallel edge of the main-table top.

A further object is to provide a suitable opening or space beneath themain-table top for pocketing the piled-up leaves above the slides whenthe latter are in pushed-up or closed position above thesupporting-pedestal, whereby the extra leaves are kept out of sight andare ready for immediate extended use, and need occupy no other placethat is inconvenient and remote from the main-table when they are not inuse.

A compact and sightly structure is thus provided that serves as amain-table without its leaves being extended, or as a wellsupportedextension-table when its leaves are unfolded on the extended slideswhose outermost ends are duly supported by means of foldable legs, allof which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointedout in the claim.

In the accompanying sheets of drawings forming a part of thisspecification, Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved table show-Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 25, 1916.

Serial No. 860,332.

ing the normal top or permanent center thereof that is mounted on apedestal or standard. with one of the extensible structures or endsdrawn outward in position for use and with the other extensiblestructure or end in closed position out of use; Fig. 2, a longitudinalside elevation of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a plan view similar to Fig. 1 butshowing the table with its permanent top and the extension devices ofone side removed and the leaves of the extended side also removed, and,also, with the longitudinal center of the whole device broken awaywhereby a clear view of the pick-up and stop devices for theextensible-slides is obtained; Fig. 4:,

a central longitudinal section of the table as it appears in Fig. 1 andtaken on the dotted-line a, w, of Fig. 3, but before the piled-up leaveshave been unfolded into us ing position and with the pedestal omitted;Fig. 5, an elevation of one of the extensibleslides of the table,showing half in section, however, and with the parts closed in normalposition without any extension thereof; Fig. 6, a fragmentaryperspective view, on a somewhat larger scale than the other views justdescribed, showing two of the ex tensible-slides in engaging position atthe extreme outer end of their extended stroke, and bringing to clearview one of the pickup spring-latches and its adjacent stop andactuating cam-plate that is used in coupling the slides so that theyrecede or return together when the table is to be put in normal,

closed position; Fig. 7, a fragmentary perspective view of one of thegrooved partitions in the main-table frame showing its inclined T-shapegroove or guide-way for directing the gradual elevation of theextensible-slide seen in Fig. 6, and further showing thelaterally-extended plate used as a switch or shifter for the saidspringlatch seen in Fig. 6; Fig. 8, a detail section of the spring-latchseen in Fig. 6; Fig. 9, a combination plan and projected end view of oneof the laterally-extended couplingplates used on the bottom of theadjacent extended ends of the two slides seen in Fig. 6 for the outwardpull or draft of the inner slide shown; Fig. 10, a view similar to Fig.9 but showing the reverse side of the switch or shifter plate seen inFig. 7 and being one of those used in actuating the spring-latch devicesof the extensible-slides and showing both of the bottom outer corners asbeing beveled; Fig. 11, a view similar to the last two views but showingone of the stop and shifter plates, such as that seen on the inner slideof Fig. 6 and used in controlling the backward or reverse movement ofthe extensible-slides in retreating from extended use; Fig. 12, afragmentary outside elevation of the grooved partition seen in Fig. 7;Fig. 13, a bottom plan view of the two extensible-slides seen in Fig. 6,showing the interlocking or coupling plates on the bottom of the twoslides that are mentioned in connection with Fig. 9; Fig. 14, a detailoutside elevation of the auxiliary or inner one of the slides seen inFig. 6, it being the slide that is used in both extending and elevatingthe leaves to the proper level for use; and Fig. 15, atransversesection, taken on a slightly larger scale, of theauxiliary-slide seen in Fig. 14 and, also, taken on the verticaldotted-line 3/, y, of that view.

In these drawings, 1 indicates the pedestal or upright, centralsupporting-standard having a bottom or base 2 that carries auxiliarycorner-posts 3, the latter, in turn, carrying the rectangular,extension-slide containingreceptacle or housing-frame whose details ofstructure I shall presently describe and which alsocarries themain-table top 4 that is suitably held vertically-spaced therefrombymeans of right-angled bracket-plates 5 projecting upwardly from theopposite ends of the two outer side-bars 6, 6 ofthe said housing-frame(as in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5). As the extensible devices are duplicated atboth the open sides or ends of the said receptacle and the latter ismade with corresponding guidewaysand walls for the accommodation of theslides, I shall describe but one set of the four extensible sets inactual detail and the manner in which all four sets of slides coact inthe operation of making-up an extension-table according to my inventionherein.

7 indicates an auxiliary slide and coupling bar arranged contiguous tothe inner face of one of the outer side-bars 6 and having an inclinedtongue'or tenon formation 8 along one of .its side faces that engages aninclined groove 9 in the adjacent inner face of the said outer side-bar6, both tongue and groove being T-shape in cross-section and said slideand coupling bar 7 also having on its opposite face a horizontal T-shapetongueformation 10 that engages a T-shapegroove 11 made in thecontiguous face of a slidebar 12 that projects inwardly toward themain-table from near one end of'the outermost or extreme extension leafor crossboard l3that carries two subsidiary extra leaves or cross-boards14 and 15, the latter being hinged together and carried in foldedcondition by said outermost board 13 when thetable is closed,'or whenthe table is being either extended or closed, as the case may be. (Fig.4 shows the piled-up feature of the leaves 14 and 15, in both extendedand closed positions.)

The inner face of the slide-bar 7 is smooth and plane and contacts withthe smooth and plane outer face of an intermediate stationary partitionor guide-bar 16 that parallels the said outer side-bar 6 and has aT-shape groove 17 in its opposite face or inner side, such grooves 17being inclined at the same angle as the inclined groove 9 but in theopposite direction to accommodate the auxiliary slide and coupling bar 7that approaches within the receptacle or housingframe from the oppositeopen end thereof and has a similar T-shape tongue-formation S thereonfor engagement with its companion groove. A plane, stationary inside bar18 is arranged parallel to the said intermediate partition-bar 16 butduly spaced therefrom to accommodate the last-named coupling-bar 7 andform a suitable guideway with said partition-bar 16 therefore, thesmooth and plane inner face of an inwardly-extending bar 12 thatapproaches from the other end of the receptacle or housing-frame butprojecting from an outermost extension-board 13 a greater distance fromthe side edge of the latter than that of the slide-bar 12first-above-described (as in Fig. 3, but wherein the slide devices tothe left are omitted.)

A transverse bar 19 is provided at the center of the housing-frame (asin Figs. 2, 3 and 4), suitably elevated above the upper edges of thesets of slide-bars 7 and 12 and the guide-bars 6, l6 and 18 at bothsides of the housing-frame, (as best seen in Fig. 5). When the piled-upleaves at the outer ends of the outermost extension-bars 12 are housedwithin the main-table receptacle, (as in Figs. 2 and 4) the inner edgeof the uppermost leaf of each piled-up set contacts with the side edgeof the cross-bar l9 and the outer edge of the piled-up sets of leaveslies flush with that of the table-top 4 (as in said Figs. 2 and 4), thusimparting a smooth and finished appearance to the table when closed andunextended. The top surface of thecross-bar 19 contacts with the bottomof the table-top 4 and is flush with the top surface of the upper foldedleaf 15 (Fig. 4).

In order to support the leaves and slides in their extended position(Fig. 2) I provide a pair of legs or props 20 that are connected bymeans of a cross-bar 21 and hinges 22 to the apron or pendent cross-bar23 that is secured to the outer edge of the outermost board 13 of eachof the extension sides of the table, said hinges enabling the folding ofthe legs into a horizontal position beneath the boards 13 and 14 whenthe slide devices are being operated to and from Within thehousing-frame and when the slide devices and extra leaves are in closedposition within said housing-frame, (as in Figs. 2, 3 and 4). A suitablelatch-bolt 21 is provided beneath the board 13 to hold the legs or propsin folded position, (see Fig. 4). A reinforcing cross-bar 25 is providedbetween the legs 20 (see Fig 4).

In order to reciprocate the extension de vices to and from place withinthe table, I provide the slide-bars 12 with pivotal-plates 26 mounted oncross-pins 27 in bearings 28 (Figs. 3, 6 and S), on their upper edgesand laterally-extending plates 29 on their bottom edges or faces, thelattennamed edges being tenoned at 30 and the said plates 29 extendingbeyond the inner edges of the tenons but not beyond the inner planefaces of the said slide-bars 12 (as best seen in Fig. 13). Thestationary parallel guidebars 16 and 18 of the housing-frame are eachprovided with laterally-extending plates 31 (Figs. 3, 7 and 12) thatform switches on their upper edges, such lateral extensions or switcheslying in the path of the elevated or raised part 26 of the saidpivotal-plates 26 when the latter encounter them in the outward movementof the said slide-bars 12. The lower outer corners of the switch-plates31 are beveled, as shown at 31 (Figs. 10 and 12) so that the beveledside edges 31 of the raised portions 26 of the pivotal-plates 26 shallreadily pass under the plates 31 without undue wear or shock inreciprocating to and from the extended or to and from the closedpositions, respectively, of the slide devices.

A suitable spring 26 is used under each of the elevated portions 26 ofthe pivotalplates 26 (Fig. 8) for quickly and positively returning thelatter to normal position after the said raised portions have beendepressed. Plates 32 are provided in the bottom edges of theauxiliary-slides 7 near their outer ends and extend laterally across therespective lower faces of the slide-bars 12 so that they almost touchthe tenoned portion 30 (Fig. 13) and so as to contact with the plates 29on said slide-bars 12, and the contacting sets of plates 29 and 32 coactin the drawing of the auxiliary-slides 7 outward from the housing of thetable when it is desired to use the table in extended condition.

The slide-bars 12 are each tenoned or tongued at 12 along their upperfaces, the elevated portions 26 of the pivotal-plates 26 being flushtherewith (Fig. 8), and stopplates 33 are provided on the upper faces ofthe said auxiliary-slides 7 a suitable distance rearward from the outerends thereof, and extend laterally over the main ,upper surface of thesaid slide-bars 12 toward but not touching the tenoned portions 12 forthe return engagement of the lower portions of the pivotal-plates 26that firmly contact therewith when the outer slidebars that carry theextra leaves are directed or pushed back toward the table-housing. InFig. 6 I show the said lower portion of the pivotalplate 26 as beingspaced away from the adjacent edge of the stop-plate 33, but in practicesaid lower portion should at no time be so spaced, as the outerslide-bars 12 never extend beyond the limit of contact of the lowercontacting sets of plates 29 and 32. This manner of showing the pivotalplate away from said stop-plate is done to bring more clearly to viewthe structure of the said pivotal-plate and its mounting. Each of thesaid stop-plates 33 is beveled at but one outer corner 33 for the readypassage thereover of the lower outer edge of the base or lower portionof the pivotal-plate 26 when the latter has almost approached the end ofits stroke in the outward move ment of the slide-bar 12 on which it ismounted and the coaction of the bottomplates 29 and 32 about to beeffected. The said bottom-plates 29 and 32 now coact in the furthermovement outward of the slide bars 12 and serve to couple theauxiliaryslides 7 with said slidebars 12 for extending the slides 7 fromthe housing to the limit of their lower hook-ends 34: that engage thelower cross-bars35 of the housing-frame.

WVhen the slidebars 7 and 12 are fully extended the legs or props 20 canthen be lowered on their hinges into vertical supporting-position (Fig.2) by releasing or withdrawing the latch-bolts 2 1, and then the twosubsidiary leaves 14 and 15 are unfolded from the outermost leaves 13 soas to fill the spaces or gaps between said outermost leaves 13 and theedge of the table-top 4:. In the outward sliding-movement of the bars 7and 12 the inclined tongue and groove connections of the said bars 7cause the said bars and the extra leaves that they carry to graduallyrise to a level that brings the upper surface of the outermost leaves 13flush with that of the said table-top 4, and the reverse action takesplace when it is desired to close the extension devices an leaves withinthe housing or receptacle provided beneath the said table-top 4. Thetenon or tongue formations 12 along the upper faces of the slide-bars 12serve to support the extra leaves 13 and 14: on the same level as theinner extra leaves 15 that rest on the upper faces of theauxiliary-slides 7 and there is thus a substantial base for the saidextra leaves throughout their extended positions.

It will be seen, in the operation of the extension devices, that theplates 31 merely serve as switches for the pivotal or rocker plates 26,the elevated portions 26 of the latter passing under them in bothdirections of travel and thereby causing the pivotal-plates to rock ontheir bearings so that the base portions thereof ride freely over thestop-plates 33 when moving in either direction of travel. In thebackward movement of the slide-bars 12 the pivotal baseplates 26 engagethe steps 33 and serve as couplings until the said switches 31 arereached, at which time the said switches cause the pivotal base-platesto be released from the stop-plates, at which time, also, theauxiliary-slides 7 have been duly housed within the table and then theouter slide-bars 12 can immediately follow without obstruction until theinner edges of the piled-up extra-leaves contact with the center-bar 19.

It will be seen that the drawings show a square-ended table with myextensible features applied thereto, but it will be quite obvious thatmy said extensible features are just as well adapted for use inconnection with an oval or round ended table.

In operating the extension devices, the set at one end of the main-tableis first actuatedby drawing it outward from beneath the top 4 until theauxiliary-slides 7 reach the end of their ascending stroke and the hooks34 are in engagement with the crossbar 35, which movement brings theupper edges of the rear ends of said auxiliaryslides 7 in contact withthe lower face of the said top 4 (Fig. 4) owing tothe coactipn of theinclined tongues 8 in the inclined grooves 9. The piled-upextension-boards 13, 14 and 15 are still supported at this time on theslide-bars 12 and the bottom-plates 29 and 32 are in coacting positionfor the further advance of the said slide-bars 12 and theextension-leaves carried thereby into final full extended position, butthe set of extension devices at the other end of the main-table can nowbe actuated to the full length of both their ascending andstraightahead, horizontal stroke, whereby the outermost slide-bars 12are in the position shown in Fig. 2 and the said extension boards orleaves unfolded into the gap or space between the outer leaf 13 and theedge of the table-top 4. The latch-bolt 24 of the lastnamed set is thenwithdrawn from its socket so that the legs 20 can be swung downward intosupporting-position for the outer end of the said last-namedextensionset.' The completion of the outward stroke, in a horizontalplane, can now be accomplished in connection with the first-named set sothat the extension leaves or boards can be utilized in closing the gapor space between the board 13 and the edge of the top 4 (Figs. 1, 2 and4) and the latch-bolt 24 in that set adjusted so that the legs 20thereof can be dropped into leaf and extension devicesupporting-position. The closing of the extenion devices into thereceptacle beneath the table-top 4 is accomplished in a reverse manner,and one or more persons can thus readily handle the device equally welland without parting any of the main-table or rolling any of it over thefloor.

I claim In an extension-table, extensible-slides each comprising anoutermost carrier-bar having a horizontal T-shape outer grooveintermediate its upper and lower edges, an intermediate auxiliaryslide-bar having a horizontal T-shape formation provided along its innerface to slidingly-engage the said T-shape groove in the outermostcarrier-bar and, also, having an inclined T- shape formation providedalong its opposite or outer face, an immovable side-bar in a table-framehaving an inclined groove adapted to the sliding-engagement of the saidinclined T-shape formation on said auxiliary slidebar, interlocking orabutting plates for coupling said outermost carrierbar and auxiliaryslide-bar, a transverse rocker-arm on said outermost carrier-bar, astop-plate on the said auxiliary slide-bar and projecting laterally intothe path of said rocker-arm whereby the latter shall e11- gage saidstop-plate for the return move ment of the auxiliary slide-bar, andmeans on the table-frame for actuating the rockerarm in both thereciprocal movements of the auxiliary slide-bar.

' LUDWVIG GLATZ. Witnesses:

JOHN ELIAs JoNEs, VVILLIAM sGHUCI-IARDT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. 0.

